Photo of the Day – Sunset over Kunta Kinte Island, River Gambia ©Helen Jones-Florio

The sun sets over Kunta Kinte Island, River Gambia, The Gambia, West Africa © Helen Jones-Florio
The sun sets over Kunta Kinte Island, River Gambia, West Africa © Helen Jones-Florio

 

The sun sets over baobab trees and Kunta Kinte Island

Formally known as James Island (an important historical site in the West African slave trade), situated on the River Gambia, near to the villages of Juffureh and Albreda. Taken in 2009, whilst on a 930km African adventure – the first ever circumnavigation, completely by foot, of The Gambia, West Africa,  by award-winning photojournalist, Jason Florio, and photography producer, Helen Jones-Florio, three Gambians, two donkeys and a cart. Jason shot what was to become award-winning portraits of village chiefs (Alkalos) and elders: ‘Silafando – a gift to you on behalf of my journey’ 

 

Gambia expedition 2009. Portrait of Dadi Bah, Al Kalo of Tuba Dabbo with Jason Florio and Helen Jones.
‘930km African Odyssey‘ Jason & Helen with village chief – alkalo – Dadi Bah, Tubba Dabbo, The Gambia, West Africa, 2009

 

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Photo of the Day – Curiosity and the Cat ©Jason Florio

Photo of the Day - Curiosity and the Cat ©Jason Florio
Photo of the Day – Curiosity and the Cat ©Jason Florio

 

Follow on Instagram @jasonflorio / @floriotravels

#GambiaHasDecided – one year in

#GambiaHasDecided hashtag campaign founders, The Gambia, West Africa ©Helen Jones-Florio
#GambiaHasDecided hashtag campaign founders, Bakau, The Gambia, West Africa. L-R: Lamin, Gilleh, Asta, Salieu  ©Helen Jones-Florio

 

The Gambia – the smallest country on the African continent – has come a long way since this time last year and the beginning of what, doubtlessly, will be an incredibly long journey.

It’s always a pleasure to see these guys, the founders of what became one of the most important, impactful, social media campaigns to come out of West Africa.

#gambiahasdecided 
Inauguration banners for President Adama Barrow - image ©Helen Jones-Florio , 2017. — with Andrew Renneisen and Jason Florio.
Inauguration banners for President Adama Barrow – image ©Helen Jones-Florio , 2017. — with Andrew Renneisen and Jason Florio.

 

#GambiaHasDecided - Gambian boys wearing their t-shirts for President Barrow Senegal inauguration celebrations, at Westfields junction, in The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio
#GambiaHasDecided – President Barrow Senegal inauguration celebrations in The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Related posts – New Gambia
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Dogs of The Gambia, West Africa – AKA ‘It’s a Dog’s Life’

Dogs of The Gambia, West Africa

 

White Tip & Wolf on monkey watch © Helen Jones-Florio Dogs of Gambia
White Tip & Wolf on monkey watch © Helen Jones-Florio

 

One of our favourite pastimes, when in The Gambia, is hanging out with the #9 pack of rescue dogs – and assorted random beach dogs.

Beach walks and making documentaries, with Jason Florio

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Each and every one of them has real character, which we also have A.K.A. names for too: White Tip / ‘It’s All About Me‘ (because she demands ALL the attention); Rascal/’Little Titch‘(the smallest, yet the feistiest of the pack!); Wolf/’Silent Bob‘ (the stealthiest dog I have ever met); Kalu/’Black Dog‘ (ermm…not a very inspired AKA…he migrated from the Indian restaurant across the street to #9, and ‘Kalu’ is an Indian word for black); Junior/’JuJu‘ (and, sometimes, ‘Teenager‘, because he can sleep for Gambia!).

 

Beach dogs - Wolf, White Tip and Juju © Helen Jones-Florio
Beach dogs – Wolf, White Tip and Juju, Cape Point Beach, The Gambia © Helen Jones-Florio

 

Follow @floriotravels on Instagram for daily travel, dogs, the occasional cat or monkey, photo updates, with a little of our documentary work thrown into the mix.